CARgo: Speed demon; devilish sound

Traxxas

handout

by
Lowell Conn, Postmedia News | February 23, 2012

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RC car gone wild: When we were kids, radio-control race cars were actually for kids. Today, the Traxxas XO-1 radio control electric supercar is for adults and serious car-loving adults at that. This 1/7th-scale toy is designed to reach a maximum speed of more than 140 kilometres an hour. The manufacturer set out to make the fastest RC car imaginable, and the results are both improbable and impractical. Seriously, where is one going to play around with a toy car that hits 140 km/h? The device is compatible with an iOS app that needs to be utilized in order to unlock the highest speeds. The app provides real-time speed, voltage, rpm and temperature gauges, and allows tuning of steering, throttle sensitivity, braking strength and throttle trim. Taking a gander at all of the little parts that make up this pint-sized wonder, there may be more technology in the XO-1 car than in some existing economy vehicles. It takes a true auto nut to create the XO-1, which makes this a perfect expensive gift for crazed car buffs. $1,100; visit traxxas.com.

Pioneer mixes tunes: Among the first wave of car stereos to take advantage of Pioneer Electronics’ new MIXTRAX software, the AVH-P8400BH Multimedia DVD Receiver is a classy high-end offering from a company known for classy high-end products. This double-DIN stereo features a seven-inch touch panel, Bluetooth, HD Radio tuner, Pandora control and the ability to customize the colour scheme to match any car interior. An eight-band graphic equalizer will provide enough tune-tinkering capability to please audiophiles, and Advanced App Mode provides compatibility with an array of apps that run from a connected smartphone. But the unique proposition is interactivity with MIXTRAX, an app that runs on smartphones or PCs, which provides manual and automated tools to create a great mix from your existing song collection. Most stereo makers have jumped into the app creation world in one way or another, but MIXTRAX is a very innovative way for Pioneer to get closer to consumer music consumption. It’s surprising that MIXTRAX is not available on all 2012 Pioneer car stereos, but said absence only lends greater prestige to this one. $650; visit pioneerelectronics.ca.